Coaxial socket contact



Oct.'2 8, 1952 T. w. HECKING 2,615,949

COAXIAL SOCKET CONTACT Filed April 30. 1947 3nventor (Ittorneg PatentedOct. 28, 1952 COAXIAL SOCKET CONTACT Theodore W. Hocking, Audubon, N.J., assignor to Radio Corporation of America, a corporation of DelawareApplication April 30, 1947, Serial No. 744,888

3 Claims.

The present invention relates to sockets for electrical connectors andmore particularly to coaxial socket devices for connection to coaxialelements of an electron tube or other electrical apparatus.

In ultra-high frequency applications it is sometimes desirable torerncvably connect a coaxial transmission line to electrical apparatussuch as, for example, an electron tube. To permit of such connection,the apparatus is usually provided with external coaxial conductingmembers or prongs insulated from each other. Usually such conductingmembers cannot be directly connected to the coaxial line with which itis desired to associate them. Use is, therefore, made of an adapterdevice intermediate the coaxial conducting members and the coaxial line,having socket contacts for reincvably receiving the conducting members.

Some uses of electrical apparatus require fre- H quent connection to anddisconnection from a coaxial line. In these applications it is desirablethat the operations referred to be performed easily and rapidly.

It is, therefore, a principal object of the invention to provide socketcontacts for electrical connection of coaxial elements which arecharacterized by facility in use and a rapidly accomplished registrationof the elements.

The coaxial conducting elements of some apparatus requiring connectionto a coaxial transmission line are offset axially in such a manner thatthe inner member of such elements extends inwardly axially of the outermember. To accommodate such elements, the socket contacts of the adapterare also required to be axially displaced, the inner socket beingdisposed within the outer socket at a depth commensurate with the axialdisplacement of the elements referred to. Several difiiculties areencountered in accomplishing a proper engagement between the inner ofthe elements referred to and the inner socket of the adapter. Forexample, the coaxial conducting members of an electrical apparatus maynot always be exactly concentric with the result that a centering of theouter member with respect to the adapter may not result in a registrybetween the inner member and the inner socket of the adapter.Furthermore, it is relatively difficult to dispose the adapter incoaxial relation to one of the conducting members to be received therebyuntil the members actually enter their respective sockets. As a result,engagement between the inner member and the inner socket which arehidden from view when the connection is being made, is sometimes forcedwith consequent damage to the parts involved.

It is, therefore, a further object of the invention to provide a socketcontact having coaxial sockets for connection to coaxial elements of anelectrical device which accommodate themselves to inaccuracies instructural features of the device and to improper handling during theconnecting operation.

Another object is to provide a socket device having coaxial socketswherein one of the sockets properly adjusts itself with respect to oneof two coaxial conducting members received thereby.

An additional object is to provide a socket device having coaxialsockets which adjust themselves to coaxial members on the application offorce to said members axially thereof.

It is a further object to provide an adjustable connector having coaxialsockets wherein means are provided for preventing injury to the socketson forceaoly connecting associated conducting members thereto in theabsence of proper registry between said members and sockets.

Another object is to provide an adjustable socket for coaxial conductingmembers in which means are utilized for directing the force employed ininserting members in said socket in such a manner that the force is usedsubstantially for obtaining a proper registry between said members andsaid socket andfor effecting an entrance of said members into saidsocket.

A still further object is to provide a connector device having coaxialsockets which can readily be disassembled for replacement of parts.

Further objects Will appear as the present description proceeds.

In the drawing, to which reference is now made for a specific embodimentof my invention:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of the novel socket contact of theinvention, with coaxial prongs of an electron tube in operative positiontherein;

Figure 2 is an enlarged View of a portion of Figure 1, showing themounted relationship between the inner and outer sockets of myinvention;

Figure 3 is a sectioned view along the line 3-3 of Figure l and showsthe spring contact between the outer socket of my invention and theouter coaxial prongs of an electron tube; and

Figure 4 is a view in section along 44 of Figure 1, and indicates theengagement between spring member of the inner socket and the innercoaxial prong of the tube.

Referring now to Figure l in more detail, there is shown an electricalconnector employing the novel socket contacts of my invention inoperative association with coaxial conductors, such as two lead-ins ofan electron tube. The electrical connector shown includes an outersocket assembly and an inner socket assembly.

The outer socket assembly comprises a tubular end portion I8 havingflexible fingers H, and a tubular support 12. The tubularportion [H.isprovided with a flared end [3 for facilitating reception of the outerconductor 14 of a coaxial conductor array. The end of tubular portion l8remote from the flared end is ma be rolled into and/or soldered toperipheral slot |5 provided in support l2, to accomplish a fixedmounting and support of tubular end portion I8 on support l2.

The inner socket assembly includes a tubular member l6, the walls ofwhich are formed by flexible fingers. Tubular member I6 is integral witha solid body H, which is provided with an additional tubular portion |8for receiving a conductor, not shown, of a coaxial transmission line.The inner socket assembly also includes a tubular support l9 having aninternal recess 20 at one end thereof for receiving in a snug fit asemiresilient insulating bushing 2|. Bushin 2| is provided with atubular passageway for receiving the solid body Nuts 22, 23 engagesuitable threads on body IT for securely supporting said body in bushing2|. The end 24 of tubular member |6 is flared to contribute to ease ofinsertion therein of inner conductor 25 of the coaxial conductor arrayreferred to.

A further feature of the invention relates to a novel mounting of theinner socket assembly within the outer assembly. Tubular support |9 ofthe inner socket assembly is provided with a flange 26 at the endthereof remote from the internal recess 28. Intermediate the flange 26and the Walls of support H3 is a flared end portion 21' having a bearingsurface 28. The inner wall of tubular support l2 of the outer socketassembly is provided with a groove 26, which is formed by shoulders 33,3|.

Shoulder 30 extends inwardly of tubular support I2 to provide a bearingsurface for one face of flange 26. Groove 29 is of greater transverseextent than flange 26 so that a path is provided for transverse movementof flange 26 in the groove. Shoulder 3| extends inwardly of tubularsupport 2 to a less degree than shoulder 30. Thus, as more clearly shownin Figure 2, the edge 35 of flange 26 is of less transverse extent thanthe edge 36 of shoulder 3|. If the restraint of washer 32 is removed,the clearance between edges 35 and 36 permit longitudinal movement ofthe inner socket assembly for removal thereof from the outer socketassembly if this should be desired for inspection and repair. Instead ofremoving the entire inner assembly it is possible to remove only thetubular member I 6 thereof to repair, for example, broken fingers ofthis member. Removal of member l6 from the outer assembly whilepermitting the tubular member I9 to remain in association with the outerassembly, may be accomplished by removal of nut 23 which permits member|6, I! to be disengaged from bushing 2|.

In operation flange 26 is held against the bearing surface of shoulder38 by a metallic washer 32, which engages shoulder 3|a. Washer 32 isheld in position by a split ring 33 which engages an additional groove34 on the inner wall of tubular support I2. Ring 33 is under suitablecompression to urge it into position in groove 34. However, it may bemanually compressed and removed to permit removal of washer 32 and theinner socket assembly. The bearing surface 28 on the tubular support |9may engage a surface of washer 32 to hold the inner socket assemblyagainst longitudinal movement in a direction opposite to the bearingsurface on shoulder 30. The combination of the bearing surface onshoulder 30 and the surface referred to of washer 32 cooperate thereforeto constrain the inner socket assembly against longitudinal movement ineither direction. To permit free transverse travel of the flange 26between shoulder 30 and washer 32, shoulder 3| is spaced a suitabledistance from shoulder 3|a so as to displace the washer 32 from thebearing surface 28 by a value suflicient to prevent a binding of flange26 therebetween.

Figure 2 shows on a larger scale a portion of the device depicted inFigure 1. concerns the relation of flange 26 to the bearing surface onshoulder 38 and to shoulder 3|, and the relation of the bearing surface28 on tubular support I9 to washer 32. This view shows more clearly theclearance between edge 35 of flange 26 and the edge 36 of shoulder 3|,when the inner socket assembly is centered in the outer socket assembly.It also shows a space between bearing surface 28 and washer 32 to permitfree transverse movement of flange 26 on the bearing surface of shoulder38.

The clearance between washer 32 and bearing surface 28 is less than thatbetween flange 26 and the bearing surface on shoulder 30, so that at notime is there danger of edge 35 striking the corner of shoulder 3|.

Figure 3 is a cross sectional view along 3-3 of Figure 1, and shows theresilient fingers H of the outer socket assembly, and the concentricityof the inner and outer coaxial conductors i4, 25 with insulation 3!provided between these conductors.

Figure 4 shows a cross section along 44 of Figure l and depicts thefingers l6 of the inner socket assembly engaging the inner conductor 25.

One use of the novel electrical connector of the invention may be inassociation with an electron tube having coaxial lead-ins I4, 25, and aconcentric transmission line, not shown, in appli cations involvinultra-high frequencies. Leadins of an electron tube adapted for such usemay be coaxially arranged and offset along their longitudinal axes. Theconnector of my invention is particularly suited to effect a connectionbetween such lead-ins and a transmission line. To this end the socketmembers formed by fingers II and tubular member l6 are longitudinallyoffset to accommodate the offset lead-ins I4, 25,

At the end of the connector remote from the socket members referred tothere is provided a groove 38 in support l2 for retaining in positionand the inner end outer sockets l0, l6 are exactly But it frecentered,no problem would arise. quently happens that eithenthe concentricity ofthe coaxial conductors I4, 25 or that of the members I0, IE, or both, isdisturbed in handling, with the result that the inner conductor 25 maynot always properly engage the socket member l6 on initiating aninsertion operation. The resort to force in this connection may resultin damage to either the conductor or the socket. or both.

Where the inner socket is fixed against transverse movement with respectto the outer socket, the damage resulting from a forced insertion of aconductor can easily be appreciated. For

This portion example, it is very likely that the force employed inovercoming opposition to the insertion of conductor 25 into socket l9,may not correct the faults in concentricity which result in theopposition, but may aggravate such faults, and if sufiicient force isused, may in fact break the socket or the conductor or the electronictube beyond repair.

While the provision of a structure permitting free transverse movementof the inner socket assembly within the outer assembly contributes to aproper insertion of coaxial conductors in the sockets by permitting theinner assembly to align itself with the inner conductor, a furtheradvantage is contributed by supporting the inner assembly at a criticallocation along its longitudinal axis. For example, if the tubularsupport IQ of the inner socket assembly were supported within the outertubular support 12 at a location adjacent its end remote from flange 26,the force employed in inserting conductor 25 in socket 16 would resultin two components, particularly if the opposition is encountered at theopening 24 of the socket. One of these components would have a directionaxially of unit [6 and the other component would be transverse to thisaxis. But due to the longitudinal displacement of the point of supportfrom the location of the application of the force, the longitudinalcomponent would be larger of the two and might result in suiflcientfriction at the support point to prevent any transverse motion of theinner socket assembly. To support the inner assembly end remote fromflange 26 is therefore undesirable notwithstanding the normal freedom ofthe inner assembly to move transversely Within the outer assembly.

According to a further feature of the invention therefore the innersocket assembly is supported within the outer socket assembly at alocation on the inner socket assembly which is preferably closer to theend 24 of the socket than to the end of the tubular support [9 remotefrom flange 26. In accordance with this feature, flange 26 is disposedon tubular support [9 at a, location which is closer to the open end 24of the socket than to the end of the support remote from the open end 24referred to. As a result of this structural arrangement, the applicationof a force to the open end 24 of the inner socket will result in asufflciently large lateral component to transversely move the innerassembly with respect to the outer assembly. In this situation thelongitudinal force component will be insufficient to produce a brakingeffect on the engagement between the shoulder 30 and flange 26.

An additional feature of the invention is the semi-resilient couplingbetween the tubular socket l6 and the support l9 which is afforded bybushing 2!. This coupling contributes additional flexibility to theinner socket assembly, and further reduces the hazards of damage to thedevice.

While one embodiment has been selected for a description of theinvention, it is obvious that many modifications may be made therein bypersons skilled in the art without departing from its spirit, and Itherefore desire the invention to include such modifications and to belimited only to the extent required by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A coaxial socket device comprising two axially displaced coaxialtubular members for receiving axially displaced coaxial conductors, theouter of said tubular members including means on its inner surface forsupporting the inner of said members, a flange on said inner of saidmembers, said flange being spaced from each end of said inner of saidmembers and electrically insulated therefrom, a surface of said flangeengaging a surface of a portion of said means, a member spaced apredetermined distance from a surface of said flange opposite to saidfirst-named surface thereof, and an additional member engaging a surfaceof an additional portion of said means and constrained against movementthereby, said additional member supporting said first-named memberagainst movement axially of said device, whereby said inner of saidmembers is slidingly mounted for transverse movement only, saidtransverse movement being in a plane at right angles to the longitudinalaxis of the tubular members.

2. A coaxial socket contact comprising an inner and an outer socketmember coaxially arranged, said inner socket member including a tubularportion having flexible walls and an open end for receiving a conductor,a support for said tubular portion, said support insulatingly engagingthe other end of said tubular portion and extending towards said openend thereof, means on said support at the extremity thereof closest tosaid open end of said tubular portion engaging said outer socket memberfor preventing relative longitudinal movement between said outer socketmember and said support, said means providing a space for permittingsliding transverse movement only between said outer socket member andsaid support, said transverse movement being in a plane at right anglesto the longitudinal axis of said inner and outer socket members, wherebysaid tubular portion is adjustable to receive a non-registeringconductor.

3. A coaxial socket device having two axially displaced coaxial tubularmembers, each of said members comprising a receptacle and supporttherefor, the outer of said members having a plurality of inner annularshoulders, the inner of said members having a radially extending flangeengaging one of said shoulders for sliding movement relative thereto,said sliding movement being restricted to a plane at right angles to theaxis of said coaxial tubular members, and means to restrict non-slidingrelative movement, said means including the others of said shoulders,the receptacle of said inner of said members being electricallyinsulated from the said support therefor.

THEODORE W. HECKING.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,418,171 Raettig May 30', 19221,871,397 Watts Aug. 9, 1932 2,064,585 Atienza Dec. 15, 1936 2,235,010Chaffee Mar. 18, 1941 2,258,737 Browne Oct. 14, 1941 2,368,566 PetersonJan. 30, 1945 2,413,298 De Tar Dec. 31, 1946 2,422,379 Westman June 1'7,1947 2,446,706 Latimer et a1. Aug. 10, 1948 FOREIGN PATENTS NumberCountry Date 228,735 England Feb. 12, 1925 515,683 England Dec. 12, 1939

